Core Perspective - The transformation of Qinghai's Cold Lake from a declining oil town to a prominent astronomical observation site highlights the potential of innovative resource utilization in driving regional development [1][2][3]. Group 1: Historical Context - Cold Lake was once home to China's fourth-largest oil field, with significant oil production starting in 1958, but faced decline due to resource depletion in the 1990s [1][2]. - The area saw a population decline and infrastructure challenges, prompting local leaders to seek new development avenues [2]. Group 2: Astronomical Development - The Cold Lake Astronomical Observation Base, initiated in 2020, is now recognized as Asia's largest optical astronomical observation site, providing a significant boost to China's optical astronomy research [1][3]. - The site boasts an impressive 70% clear night ratio, allowing for approximately 300 days of observation annually, making it an ideal location for astronomical studies [2][3]. Group 3: Infrastructure and Investment - The construction of access roads and the establishment of multiple telescope projects have been supported by significant government funding, with an annual budget of 10 million yuan allocated for the development of the Cold Lake World-Class Astronomical Observation Base [3][5]. - Investments in scientific equipment have reached 3 billion yuan, with 12 organizations operating 45 telescopes at the site [5]. Group 4: Research and Achievements - The "Mozi" telescope, operational since September 2023, has already discovered over 4,200 supernovae and is contributing to a comprehensive database for astronomical research [4][5]. - Cold Lake has produced over 100 research papers and patents, with many achieving international recognition [4][5]. Group 5: Environmental Protection - The implementation of the "Cold Lake Astronomical Observation Environment Protection Regulations" aims to safeguard the dark night sky essential for astronomical observations, addressing potential light pollution from tourism and development [6]. - A total area of 17,800 square kilometers has been designated as a dark sky protection zone to mitigate light pollution and ensure the sustainability of astronomical research [6].

Core Insights - The largest digital camera ever, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, has released its first cosmic images, capturing unprecedented details of millions of distant stars and galaxies, as well as thousands of previously unseen asteroids [2][3] - The observatory's upcoming "Legacy Survey of Space and Time" project is set to launch in late 2025 and will last for 10 years, promising significant astronomical discoveries [2] - In a short test observation period, the observatory discovered 2,104 previously unknown asteroids, including seven near-Earth asteroids that pose no threat to Earth [2] Group 1 - The Rubin Observatory's images reveal faint details such as gas and dust clouds in the Trifid Nebula and Lagoon Nebula, showcasing the observatory's capability to capture previously unobserved phenomena [2][3] - The observatory is located at the summit of Cerro Pachón in the Atacama Desert, Chile, at an altitude of over 2,600 meters, providing optimal conditions for night sky observation [3] - The core of the observatory features a digital camera the size of a car, with a resolution of 32 million pixels, producing images so large that they require 400 ultra-high-definition televisions to display in full [3] Group 2 - Over the next decade, the Rubin Observatory plans to conduct comprehensive scans of the southern hemisphere night sky every three nights, aiming to reveal approximately 20 billion galaxies, 17 billion stars in the Milky Way, 10 million supernova events, and millions of small bodies within the solar system [3]